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This is where you'll hear about our latest revelations, adventures, family, friends, and of course our most favorite topic, our wonderful clients. Check back with us often, I promise the read will be fascinating. It could be worse, you could be reading the New York Times.

"Our Pets" 2-08

Squeak's feral (wild) mother was smart, she hid her three tiny kittens in a storm drain to protect them from predators. One day a jogger running past heard hungry kittens crying, peering down into the storm drain she could see little faces looking up. The dedicated volunteers at the Newtown Animal Center who trapped the kittens say Squeak was the first one to climb out. Once they trap kittens the procedure is a vet check up, then they're neutered and/or spayed to prevent more unwanted kittens. Kittens are placed with foster families to adjust to humans and to become socialized. The last step is people like us come along to adopt.

True to her beginnings, Squeak loves to spend time in the bathtub, and bathroom sink watching the water, and she is not one to ever miss a meal. If she were a human we believe she would have sang sultry songs in a nightclub.

She's always very gentle, shy, and sweet until her "brother" Kringle wants to play/fight and he usually pays for it. She gracefully swings her hips like a dancer from side to side, badda boom, badda boom, and he goes flying. He doesn't mind since he always comes back for more. She's our "Beautiful Girl."

Kringle's priority in life is to play. The favorite toy at the moment is six feet long, and he drags it everywhere we are in order to play fetch. Once we tire of fetch we place his toy out of sight on top of a cabinet. A short time later he returns with this toy after either jumping up to a six ft high cabinet (yes, it's true), or climbing the shelves like a mountain climber pulling himself up shelf after shelf.

He also talks a lot, and once he decides he wants to do something he is determined. He loves to be vacuumed with the brush attachment. We use it to suck up his fur on top of head until he resembles a Conehead, and he never seems to mind when we laugh at him. He watches TV, and the computer screen, and loves to snuggle with his humans. He is very gentle, never putting out his claws, and loves to be carried around the house unless he's up to something else. When The Animal Center called to tell us they had a kitten with a lot of personality they were right on the mark. We can't imagine life without our "Kringle"
aka "The Fur Boy."

Before Squeak came to live with us it had taken time before Bill would agree to adopt another cat since we had lost our cat of twenty years. Once we had Squeak for a few months I was worried that she was lonely since we work long hours. I assumed it would take months of convincing as I mentioned to Bill I thought we should have a companion for Squeak. Surprisingly he immediately said yes, and that he would like to choose the cat this time. As soon as we walked in the door at The Animal Center, Kringle came right over to Bill. He scooped him up, and said, "this is the one". I thought to myself this is how I've seen you shop, but not chose a cat. I said, "but what about looking at the other kittens too". He said, "no, this is the one."

I had agreed to this so I couldn't say anything, but he was right, Squeak and Kringle are so content together. If Squeak is frightened she hides behind Kringle like he will protect her. She cleans his long tail, while he licks her beautiful ears. They are usually together in the same room. When it's bird and squirrel watching time they sit side by side tails swinging simultaneously. So often I think about what would have happened to them without the Newtown Animal Center. I'm sure neither would be here today, and if they did manage to survive they would have had a very difficult life. Plus we would have missed the wonderful experience of living with these two beautiful animals.
"The Fur Ball," Monday, October 13, 2008

Last night The Animal Center's, www.TheAnimalCenter.org first ever Fur Ball was held at Molly Darcy's Pub, www.MollyDarcy.com in Danbury, CT. I'm on cloud nine today because they held the Premiere showing of the Kitten Video I've been creating for them. Over the past few months I've been filming lots of kittens, so it's been a fun and furry assignment. Click the > Play button at the bottom the image.
The amazing Co-founders of The Animal Center, Kim Coleman and Monica Roberto were honored for all of their incredible work over the past 3 1/2 years.
Along with so many of the truly dedicated Volunteers such as Gudrun who managed the ticket sales. Jeanine, organizer of the Fur Ball who wore furry black ears all evening My husband, Bill. He was burning DVD's for me up until we were walking out the door.
Tina, who volunteered to pass around all those delicious vegetarian hors d' oeuvres. By day she is a kind, and efficient animal medical technician. I waited until Bill and I were in the car on the way to the Fur Ball to drop the news that there would be no meat.
Then we have Jean. She is unbelievable! Every single day she personally drives way out of her way to feed, and over see several feral cat colonies.
The band was top notch, and these guys and gals are long time professionals.
The Clark Eno Orchestra, www.clarkenoorchestra.com

While photographing the event I took a nice shot of the bass Guitarist and fellow Photographer, Bruce Eno,
I ran into one of our previous clients, Debbie. Way back when I did a video of her son's Bar Mitzvah, she said he's now out of college, ouch. Debbie was enjoying the band like the rest of us.
As I mentioned the food was top notch, and if you didn't know, you wouldn't have known it was all vegetarian. The catering was provided by Aquarian Caterer's, www.AquarianCaterers.com in Newtown, CT. I'm not sure if they baked the apple cake, but I had two pieces! How often can you have masked cake?

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